Why Take German at Oak Hill?

I have been asked this question a lot lately. There are several reasons why students should take and learn German. I have a couple of links to other web sites that also addresses this question. But first, let me list several reasons why you should enroll, or have your student enroll in German at Oak Hill.

15. Learning German helps students get better SAT and ACT scores.
This is a proven fact. Learning foreign languages help students understand their own language better. Foreign language will directly reinforce students'  knowledge and understanding of the English language.

14. Colleges want you to take foreign languages.
Not only do many academic programs require or recommend German in college (for example: anatomy, art history, biochemistry, biology, biomedical physics, botany, chemistry, design, engineering, film studies, genetics, linguistics, logic and methodology of science, molecular biology, music, philosophy, physical science, physics, religious studies, and zoology), but some colleges have more majors that require the study of German over that of any other language. (For example, at the University of California, 56 majors require German, 43 require French, 21 require Spanish, and 7 majors require Japanese.)

13. German is closely related to English.
Contrary to popular belief, German is not the most difficult foreign language to learn. English is actually a Germanic language. In other words, both German and English came from the same language family. Both Spanish and French are Romantic languages, not Germanic. There are very many similarities between the two languages. Can you guess what these words mean in English? Mutter, Vater, Grossmutter, Grossvater, Haus, Maus, April, November, Dezember, Oktober, Januar, Februar, Computer, Poster, Schule, Gesundheit, Kaputt, Wienerschnitzel, Frankfurter, Hamburger, Bruder, Wasser

12. Germany is an economic powerhouse.
Germany is the economic powerhouse of Europe and in this respect, perhaps the most important member of the European Union. German investments in the United States in 1995 supported 2,507 separate enterprises with 494,000 employees, many of whom are employed in Indiana. Beyond that, exports from Germany to the United States in 1994 alone totaled $33.5 billion, and exports to Germany from the United States were around $27.5 billion.  Germany has the third highest GNP in the world, it is the second highest creditor nation, and every year occupies one of the top three spots internationally among exporting countries. Germany's publishing industry, which ranks #3 in the world behind England and China, produced 35% more new book title in 1995 than did the United States.

11. You may need German in the future.
It is inevitable that many present day elementary-, middle school-, and secondary level students will either work directly with the German language in their professions or be required to spend time in German speaking countries at some point in their professional and/or vocational careers. No matter what the future may bring professionally, students find that the study of German enriches their personal lives.

10. German is becoming increasingly more important.
German is a key language in the European Union and in the rapidly growing markets of Central and Eastern Europe.

9. German is good for American trading.
Germany is America's largest European trading partner with more than 750 American firms doing business in Germany.

8. You could speak German at work.
More than 1100 German companies have offices in the U.S.

7. You could talk to some tourists.
More than 25% of all foreign tourists visiting the U.S. come from German speaking countries. In other words, more tourists come to America that speak German than speak any other single language! Would you like to be able to communicate to other people on your roller coaster at Disneyland? Would you like to understand what the person waiting in line behind you at the Mall of America says?  How about going up into the Statue of Liberty? Take German!!!!

6. You may have a need to speak German in Indiana.
Germans in Indiana? Many parents wonder if their student needs to speak German in Indiana. Who speaks it here? Well, besides the tourists (over 25% of all foreign tourists who come to America are from German-speaking countries), on the 1990 census 46,028 people in Indiana speak German at home as their primary language. The merger of Daimler Chrysler clearly justifies a need for local students to speak German. Not only are Germans coming from overseas to help organize the new structure and discuss business problems, they will undoubtedly be sending workers over to Indiana to live and work indefinitely. Someone is going to be hired to help break the language barrier. If they do not hire people specifically for this purpose, they will simply require that certain positions be bi-lingual. If you plan to work at Daimler Chrysler or any other of the more than 1100 German companies with offices in America, don't take German so you can UNDERSTAND  the boss, take German so you can BE the boss.

5. Most Hoosiers have German ancestry.
According to the 1990 census, German-Americans are the largest ethnic group in the U.S. with 59,947,374 persons or 23.3% of the U.S. population claiming some form of German ancestry. Number two is Irish-Americans with 15.6%. In Indiana, the number of residents claiming to have German ancestry is 37.6%, one of the highest state percentages in America! The next highest percentage in Indiana is Irish at 17.4%. Take German! It runs in your family!! Get back to your roots!!!

4. German class is fun.
So many parents have told me that their student would like to take German but they are making them take another course. Why? A student will do best in a subject they are interested in. If they want to take German, let them! The benefits of taking German have already been established. German is fun and educational. There is no reason to talk your student out of taking German!

3. Take a trip to Europe!
This Spring Break will be Oak Hill's second overseas trip. In 1998, 18 students had the trip of their life when we traveled to Europe and spent 10 days in Germany. Last Spring Break we took 30 students and went to Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Austria - all German speaking countries! This year we are taking 28 students and are visiting Germany, Austria, and Hungary. To be eligible for these overseas trips, you must be either a freshman or sophomore at the time of application. Reservations are made on a first-come, first-serve basis, and priority is given to students enrolling in German. If you want to guarantee yourself a spot on the next trip, take German!!!

2. German is not the traditional class.
What other class can you do funny skits, sing songs, be asked to stand on your chair, wrestle in pudding or oatmeal, eat hot dogs and bratwursts in the "pit", bring in German food for extra credit, play battleship, watch cool movies, sentence your classmates to death in a mock trial, eat donuts, enter pie eating contests, get a free pencil on your birthday, and learn to speak another language all at the same time? How would you like to speak to your friends in a language that your kid brother or kid sister won't understand? Tell secrets at lunch? Talk to your friends about the cute person at the movie theater? Only your friends that also take German will understand you! It is fun in class, but also fun to use at home!! Take German! It really is fun!

1. Take German now and save money later!
The fact of the matter is if you go to a four-year university to study, chances are they are going to require foreign language. Even if foreign language is not required, you will still have to have a certain amount of elective courses, of which, German would naturally count. More than 90% of students having taken three or more years of German test out of one semester or more. This day in age, one semester, even at a public school, could mean $600 or more. At a private institution that could be well over $1500.00. Many students can test out of a full year, three semesters, or even two complete years. At a private school, it would be possible to save over $16,000 - just because you took German at Oak Hill!!!

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